'Sin' in the Bible

They feed on the sin of My people;they have an appetite for their transgressions.

When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin,they became his altars for sinning.

The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,will be destroyed;thorns and thistles will grow over their altars.They will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

Now they continue to sinand make themselves a cast image,idols skillfully made from their silver,all of them the work of craftsmen.People say about them,“Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves.”

Ephraim’s guilt is preserved;his sin is stored up.

Israel, return to Yahweh your God,for you have stumbled in your sin.

Take words of repentance with youand return to the Lord.Say to Him: “Forgive all our sinand accept what is good,so that we may repay Youwith praise from our lips.